Without a doubt, chalk paint has revolutionised furniture painting in recent years. The go-to paint for upcycling projects, chalk paint gives furniture an attractive matt finish.
It's especially good if you want to give modern pieces more of a vintage or antique vibe, or simply want to turn a boring item of furniture that's seen better days into something colourful and eye-catching.
You can even use chalk paint outdoors, so it's great for sprucing up garden furniture and other accessories.
If you're keen to give your garden a glow up, painting plain terracotta plant pots with chalk paint is a brilliant and quick way to add a hit of colour in your garden - take a look at these cool plant pot painting ideas and let the creativity begin!
Why make your own DIY chalk paint?
Buying chalk paint from a store by brands such as Annie Sloan and Frenchic can turn out to be expensive, particularly if you have a large item of furniture to upcycle, like a wardrobe or chest of drawers.
But with a little knowledge, creativity and imagination - and armed with an easy-to-follow recipe - you can make your own DIY chalk paint, blended to your perfect colour. It's a much cheaper option and will give you an extra sense of satisfaction when your project is complete and the compliments start rolling in!
What do you need for chalk paint DIY?
There are various recipes available online - we've picked out some of our faves below, which all promise excellent results. But most of them include standard emulsion (or latex) paint in the shade of your choice, plus one or two of the following ingredients, all of which are easy to find in a supermarket or hardware store.
- Calcium Carbonate
- Baking Soda
- Plaster of Paris
How to prep for chalk paint
Once you've made your paint, just be sure to stir it really well so that all the ingredients are mixed together before you dip your paintbrush in for the first time. This way you'll get the smoothest finish without streaks of varying colour.
It's always worth testing a bit of the paint on a piece of sturdy cardboard first to ensure you're happy with the consistency and colour before embarking on your furniture project.
3 of the best DIY chalk paint recipes
If you've tried mixing up your own paints before, it won't take you long to develop your own perfect chalk paint blend. But if you're not sure where to begin, here are a few of our favourite chalk paint DIY tutorials.
1. MrDiyDork - cheap and easy chalk paint recipe
MrDiyDork, aka Kevin, shares his simple recipe for homemade chalk paint, using one part Plaster of Paris, and one part to three parts matt or eggshell acrylic emulsion paint.
His step-by-step video tutorial is thorough and easy to follow, so it's especially handy for beginners. We love his tip about using an immersion blender or drill bit to get rid of lumps!
2. Our Handcrafted Life - easy homemade chalk paint recipe
Craft and upcycling blogger Megan shares her recipe for chalk paint in the tutorial above.
Like the previous video, we love how simple the formula is - and at four minutes long, this clip has the advantage of being super speedy.
3. Lizzy Marie - DIY best chalk paint recipe tutorial
Blogger Lizzy Marie uses Calcium Carbonate instead of Plaster of Paris in her chalk paint recipe.
Her video also includes instructions on how to apply and seal chalk paint, to guide you through your project from end to end. Plus, we love her tip about using lolly sticks to create your own colour palette for future reference.
Now you know how to make DIY chalk paint like a pro
Armed with all the skills, all that's left to do is choose your perfect paint colour and gather your ingredients.
Making your own DIY chalk paint is much easier than you might think and can be a cost-effective way to experiment with upcycling furniture in your home or garden.
Looking for more paint ideas?
If you've caught the paint-making bug, why not have a go at making your own DIY chalk paint in a range of rainbow colours? Then try out your new paints on some plain plant pots! We have tons of inspiration to fire up your imagination.
Check out our fabulous plant pot painting ideas with Gathered.
This article first appeared in YourHomeStyle and HomeStyle magazine.
